Here are a few more quilt squares that we got from my younger sister, Becky, and her family.  They are soooo cute; I've especially had quite a few comments on the one from my nephew to his new cousin!

It's hard to believe that some day, Chris and I will be wrapping our child in a quilt made from these squares.  The wait is going to be so hard, so we're hoping to keep busy with work, doing projects around the house, going camping, and getting ready to bring a child into our lives.  Hopefully, you will all join us on our journey.

I surprised Chris yesterday with a massage at a local spa while I got a pedicure.  He said he really enjoyed it and actually looked like he was going to fall asleep afterwards while he was waiting for me!  :)  And I am now officially ready for spring to get here since my nails are done in "Conga-line Coral"!  No more snow...I need to show these babies off!!!

We'll keep updating this blog so you can all follow along with our adoption story.  Today will be our home visit with the Social Worker and then we should be "paper-ready" once she gets her report completed.  That means that they can call us with a referral at any time! (although it will likely be months before we hear anything :( )  Praying that this time goes quickly. :)

Our girls!!

These are our "babies"!!  Lexi is our 18-month-old beagle; loves to lay on the heat vent in the morning after being outside...she likes being a hot dog!  And, of course, I have to cover her up to make sure she gets all the heat she can. :)

Then, there's our first dog together, Jinx, an Airedale.  We can't believe she just turned 6 years old!!  What a big girl.  She is usually our laid-back one, unless we have visitors and then she thinks she's a puppy and allowed to jump on her new friends.  These pictures are kind of misleading since they don't usually lay around...only when we're lucky!

How sweet they look!!

100 Good Wishes Quilt

For those who do not know yet, Chris and I are in the process of adopting a baby from South Korea.  We have just begun our journey, but are already anxious and ready to have him or her in our arms!  We hope you all continue to check back here, as I will try to keep this blog updated.  Keep reading for a project I hope you will all help us out with!!

Here is the first square we have received for our baby's quilt!!  Our friends, Sue and Blake, who are adopting a little boy, Cohen, from South Korea gave us this square.  It is the same fabric that they chose for Cohen's quilt.  Here are the details if you would like to participate and share in this wonderful gift we will make for our child:

100 Good Wishes Quilt

A 100 good wishes quilt, or Bai Jia Bei, is a tradition that comes from the northern part of China.  The quilts are made to welcome and celebrate a new life.  We have decided to make one for our baby.  I am really excited about this project and seeing the completed quilt with all the good wishes!  I will continue to update on this project as it progresses.  I know it will be a lot of hard work, but I know it will be worth it.  The fun part is that our friends and family get to participate!!

If you would like to participate (and we hope you do), here is what you need to do:

1. Choose any 100% cotton fabric that you like and that has meaning to you.  (100% cotton is best as it washes and wears well),

2. Cut a 10" x 10" square of fabric that will be made into the quilt

3. On card stock card (up to 8 1/2 x 11"), glue (archival safe please) a small swatch of the fabric and include your "good wish note."  If you don't have archival glue, send your card and wish unassembled and I'll put it together for you.  Your good wish can be a poem, a favorite quote or saying, bible verse, advice, etc.  Please also include your name, city, and state.  

The first piece of fabric will be used to make the quilt and the swatch and good wish will be incorporated into a special memory book for our child.

If you have any questions, please email me or leave a comment.  Thank you for taking part in this fun and special project for our baby!!!

We had a birthday party for Chris' big 4-0 at The Esquire in Champaign.  There was a great turn-out of family and friends and, as you can see, everyone had a good time.  Chris really enjoyed his evening...and the cake!!

Here are a few more pictures from Hawaii (we were there January 21-Feb 2, 2009).  We loved to sit on our lanai and read and watch the whales.  Chris always takes a picture of me reading on our vacations...I don't know why!?  The beaches were just beautiful wherever we went.  Chris wanted to be the captain on the USS Missouri.  We also went out to the Arizona Memorial, which was a very moving experience.

We had one dress-up date night, which was very romantic, although can you believe there was a couple there complaining about not having the front row on the water for dinner.  I mean, come one, we're all in Hawaii!  We were just thankful we could be in that paradise for a while.

Anyway, we went from Maui to Oahu where we stayed about 2-3 blocks from Waikiki Beach; that is a picture we took of the coastline at night. We did the touristy things there, going to Haunauma Bay to snorkel and spend the day sunbathing, as well as spending one day at Pearl Harbor touring the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri.  Two of those guns Chris is standing under weigh as much as a 747!

The condo we rented was right on the beach. We would eat breakfast on our lanai (Hawaiian for deck/porch) every morning while watching for humpback whales. We had gorgeous sunsets every night and the beaches were phenomenal. It was totally relaxing!! Chris went scuba diving one day while Rita spent that day on the beach reading...Heaven for both of us.